SALES of pizza and wine have been boosted by people staying in to beat the recession.

SALES of pizza and wine have been boosted by people staying in to beat the recession.

Domino's Pizza yesterday said like-for-like sales rose 8.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to December 27, compared with the same period a year earlier.

And Majestic Wine revealed a sharp jump in Christmas sales after reducing the minimum purchase in stores to six bottles.

The firm said like-for-like sales at their 150 UK stores rose 11.7 per cent in the nine weeks from November 3. Delivery and takeaway chain Domino's forecast profits ahead of expectations and said they had created 1500 jobs after opening a record 55 new stores last year.

The firm, who hold the rights to operate the brand in the UK and Ireland on a franchise basis, believe they have benefited in the recession as consumers choose to eat in rather than splash out on restaurants.

And the downturn has helped them secure improved media advertising rates.

A Domino's spokesman added that the cold weather before Christmas also helped as customers chose to eat at home.

Majestic chief executive Steve Lewis said: "We are delighted with the growth in sales over the Christmas period.

"And we have been encouraged by our customers' response to the reduction in our minimum purchase to six bottles."

In September, Majestic lowered the limit from 12 bottles in an attempt to broaden their customer base in towns and cities, where people are more likely to walk to stores instead of driving.

The 12-bottle minimum still applies to online orders.

Shares in Majestic increased five per cent following yesterday's announcement.

Investec Securities analyst Natalia Marisova said Majestic's performance was a "resounding endorsement" of their new minimum purchase policy and added: "It not only appeals to existing customers, it has also attracted new ones."